PHYSICAL SETTING EARTH SCIENCE - JMAPjmap.org/IJMAP/EarthScience/0815ExamES.pdfP.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [2] Part A Answer all questions in this part. Directions (1–35): For eachstatement

The University of the State of New York

REGENTS HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION

PHYSICAL SETTING

EARTH SCIENCEThursday, August 13, 2015 — 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., only

Use your knowledge of Earth science to answer all questions in this examination.Before you begin this examination, you must be provided with the 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science. You will need thesereference tables to answer some of the questions.

You are to answer all questions in all parts of this examination. You may use scrappaper to work out the answers to the questions, but be sure to record your answerson your answer sheet and in your answer booklet. A separate answer sheet for Part Aand Part B–1 has been provided to you. Follow the instructions from the proctor forcompleting the student information on your answer sheet. Record your answers to thePart A and Part B–1 multiple-choice questions on this separate answer sheet. Recordyour answers for the questions in Part B–2 and Part C in your separate answerbooklet. Be sure to fill in the heading on the front of your answer booklet.

All answers in your answer booklet should be written in pen, except for graphs anddrawings, which should be done in pencil.

When you have completed the examination, you must sign the declaration printedon your separate answer sheet, indicating that you had no unlawful knowledge of thequestions or answers prior to the examination and that you have neither given norreceived assistance in answering any of the questions during the examination. Youranswer sheet and answer booklet cannot be accepted if you fail to sign thisdeclaration.

DO NOT OPEN THIS EXAMINATION BOOKLET UNTIL THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN.

Notice . . .

A four-function or scientific calculator and a copy of the 2011 Edition Reference Tables forPhysical Setting/Earth Science must be available for you to use while taking this examination.

The possession or use of any communications device is strictly prohibited when taking this examination. If you have or use any communications device, no matter how briefly, your examination will be invalidated and no score will be calculated for you.

P.S./EARTH SCIENCEP.S./EARTH SCIENCE

1 Which characteristics best describe the starBetelgeuse?(1) reddish orange with low luminosity and high

surface temperature(2) reddish orange with high luminosity and low

surface temperature(3) blue white with low luminosity and low surface

temperature(4) blue white with high luminosity and high

surface temperature

2 Which motion occurs at a rate of approximatelyone degree per day?(1) the Moon revolving around Earth(2) the Moon rotating on its axis(3) Earth revolving around the Sun(4) Earth rotating on its axis

3 If the tilt of Earth’s axis were increased from23.5° to 30°, summers in New York State wouldbecome(1) cooler, and winters would become cooler(2) cooler, and winters would become warmer(3) warmer, and winters would become cooler(4) warmer, and winters would become warmer

4 Which object in space emits light because itreleases energy produced by nuclear fusion?(1) Earth’s Moon (3) Venus(2) Halley’s comet (4) Polaris

5 Since Denver’s longitude is 105° W and Utica’slongitude is 75° W, sunrise in Denver occurs(1) 2 hours earlier (3) 3 hours earlier(2) 2 hours later (4) 3 hours later

6 A major piece of evidence supporting the Big Bangtheory is the observation that wavelengths oflight from stars in distant galaxies show a(1) redshift, appearing to be shorter(2) redshift, appearing to be longer(3) blueshift, appearing to be shorter(4) blueshift, appearing to be longer

7 During the month of January, at which locationin New York State is the Sun lowest in the sky atsolar noon?(1) Massena (3) Utica(2) Niagara Falls (4) New York City

8 Which process releases 2260 joules of heat energy per gram of water into the environment?(1) melting (3) condensation(2) freezing (4) evaporation

9 When snow cover on the land melts, the waterwill most likely become surface runoff if the land surface is(1) frozen(2) porous(3) grass covered(4) unconsolidated gravel

10 Which area is the most common source regionfor cold, dry air masses that move over New YorkState?(1) North Atlantic Ocean(2) Gulf of Mexico(3) central Canada(4) central Mexico

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [2]

Part A

Answer all questions in this part.

Directions (1–35): For each statement or question, choose the word or expression that, of those given, bestcompletes the statement or answers the question. Some questions may require the use of the 2011 EditionReference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science. Record your answers on your separate answer sheet.

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [3] [OVER]

11 The map below shows a portion of the HudsonRiver and three tributaries: Catskill Creek,Fishkill Creek, and Wallkill River.

The greatest discharge of the Hudson River isgenerally observed near(1) Albany (3) Poughkeepsie(2) Kingston (4) Ossining

12 Which station model represents a location thathas the greatest chance of precipitation?

13 The Adirondacks are classified as mountainsbecause of the high elevation and bedrock thatconsists mainly of(1) deformed and intensely metamorphosed

rocks(2) glacial deposits of unconsolidated gravels,

sands, and clays(3) Cambrian and Ordovician quartzites and

marbles(4) horizontal sedimentary rocks of marine origin

14 In which landscape region are New York State’sFinger Lakes primarily located?(1) Adirondack Mountains(2) Allegheny Plateau(3) Atlantic Coastal Plain(4) Erie-Ontario Lowlands

15 What is the range of pressure in Earth’s interiorwhere rock with a density range of 9.9 to 12.2 g/cm3 is found?(1) 0.2 to 1.4 million atmospheres(2) 0.8 to 2.3 million atmospheres(3) 1.4 to 3.1 million atmospheres(4) 2.3 to 3.5 million atmospheres

82 101

81

76 163

66

30 191

23

65 123

60

( 1 ) ( 3 )

( 2 ) ( 4 )

Wal

lkill

Riv

er

Kingston

FishkillC

reek

Albany

Catskill Creek

Hu

ds

on

Ri v

er

New YorkCity

Poughkeepsie

Ossining

16 Earth’s magnetic field has reversed itself severaltimes during the past. This pattern of magneticreversal is best preserved in(1) metamorphic bedrock in mountain ranges(2) bedrock with fossils containing radioactive

carbon-14(3) layers of sedimentary bedrock of the Grand

Canyon(4) igneous bedrock of the oceanic crust

17 Which two features are commonly found atdivergent plate boundaries?(1) mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys(2) wide valleys and deltas(3) ocean trenches and subduction zones(4) hot spots and island arcs

18 New York State bedrock of which age containssalt, gypsum, and hematite?(1) Cambrian (3) Mississippian(2) Devonian (4) Silurian

19 Scientists infer that oxygen in Earth’s atmos-phere did not exist in large quantities until after(1) the first multicellular, soft-bodied marine

organisms appeared on Earth(2) the initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean(3) the first sexually reproducing organisms

appeared on Earth(4) photosynthetic cyanobacteria evolved in

Earth’s oceans

20 Which organisms were alive when New YorkState was last covered by a continental ice sheet?(1) Eurypterus and Cooksonia(2) Aneurophyton and Naples Tree(3) mastodont and Beluga whale(4) Coelophysis and Elliptocephala

21 One difference between a breccia rock and aconglomerate rock is that the particles in a brecciarock are(1) more aligned (3) harder(2) more angular (4) land derived

22 The photograph below shows rock layers separated by unconformity XY.

Which sequence of events most likely producedthis unconformity?(1) uplift and erosion of bedrock, followed by

subsidence and more deposition(2) intrusion of magma into preexisting rock,

causing contact metamorphism(3) eruption of a volcano, spreading lava over

horizontal sedimentary rock layers(4) separation of one rock layer, by movement

along a plate boundary

23 The igneous rock gabbro most likely formedfrom molten material that cooled(1) rapidly at Earth’s surface(2) slowly at Earth’s surface(3) rapidly, deep underground(4) slowly, deep underground

24 Which statement best supports the inferencethat most of Earth’s present-day land surfaceshave, at one time, been covered by water?(1) Volcanic eruptions contain large amounts of

water vapor.(2) Coral reefs formed, in the past, along the

edges of many continents.(3) Seafloor spreading has pulled landmasses

apart and pushed them together.(4) Sedimentary bedrock of marine origin covers

large areas of Earth’s continents.

XY

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [4]

25 Which diagram best represents the correct orientation of the North Pole [NP] as Earth revolves around theSun? [Diagrams are not drawn to scale.]

26 Which diagram best represents how greenhouse gases in our atmosphere trap heat energy?

(Not drawn to scale)

Earth

( 1 )

Earth

Atmosphere

( 2 )

Earth

Atmosphere

( 3 )

Earth

Atmosphere

( 4 )

Earth

Atmosphere

Key

Visible light radiation Infrared radiation Absorbed energy

Sun

NP

NP

( 1 )

Sun

NP

NP

NP

( 2 )

Sun

NP

NP

NPNP

( 3 )

Sun

NP

NP

( 4 )

NP NP NP

NPNP


27 The symbols below represent two planets.

Which combination of planet masses and distances produces the greatest gravitational force between theplanets?

28 The diagram below represents the circulation of air above Earth’s surface at a coastal location during theday and at night.

This local air movement is best described as an example of(1) conduction between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere above it(2) condensation of water vapor during the day, and evaporation of water during the night(3) convection resulting from temperature and pressure differences above land and water(4) greater radiation from the warmer ocean during the day and from the warmer land at night

Water

Day

Land Water

Night

Land

9 represents a planet with a mass 9 times Earth’s mass.

represents a planet with a mass 5 times Earth’s mass.5

9 9

9

( 1 )

( 4 )

( 3 )

200 106 km×

100 106 km×

( 2 )

200 106 km×

100 106 km×

55

55 9

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [6]

29 A change in the type and location of large high-pressure systems (H) and large low-pressure systems (L)over Asia creates shifts in prevailing winds that cause a rainy summer season and a dry winter season insouthern Asia. Which set of maps below best represents the type and location of pressure systems and thewind pattern around these pressure systems that cause these seasonal changes?

Winter

Summer

Winter

Summer

Winter

Summer

Winter

Summer

( 3 )( 1 )

( 2 ) ( 4 )

H

LH

L

L

H

H

L


30 The photograph below shows both erosional and depositional features formed by an agent of erosion.

Which agent of erosion produced the features shown in the photograph?(1) running water (3) ocean waves(2) glacial ice (4) prevailing wind

31 Which cross section best represents the pattern of sediments deposited on the bottom of a lake as the velocity of the stream entering the lake steadily decreased?

32 Which graph best shows the relationship between the compositions of different igneous rocks and theirdensities?

( 3 )

Den

sity

Felsic MaficComposition

( 2 )

Den

sity


Den

sity

( 4 )


Den

sity

( 1 )


( 1 ) ( 3 )

( 2 )

Top

Bottom( 4 )

Bottom

Top

Top

Bottom Bottom

Top

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [8]

33 The geologic cross section below shows rock layers that have not been overturned.

The fault is older than the(1) slate (3) unconformity(2) marble (4) shale

34 The pie graph below represents the composition, in percent by mass, of the chemical elements found in anEarth layer.

The composition of which Earth layer is represented by the pie graph?(1) crust (3) troposphere(2) outer core (4) hydrosphere

35 The diagram below indicates physical changes that accompany the conversion of shale to gneiss.

Which geologic process is occurring to cause this conversion?(1) sedimentary layering (3) metamorphism(2) intrusion of magma (4) weathering

Obvious foliation

Schist

Banding

Gneiss

Clastic texture

Shale

Slaty cleavage

Slate

Magnesium 2.3%

Oxygen 46.1%

Silicon 28.2%

Iron 5.6%

Calcium 4.2%

Potassium 2.1%All others 0.9%

Sodium 2.4%

Aluminum 8.2%

Unconformity

Fault


Base your answers to questions 36 and 37 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science.The diagram represents four tubes, labeled A, B, C, and D, each containing 150 mL of sediments. Tubes A, B,and C contain well-sorted, closely packed sediments of uniform shape and size. Tube D contains uniformlyshaped, closely packed sediments of mixed sizes. The particle size of the sediment in each tube is labeled.

36 Water was added to each tube to just cover the sediments and the volumes of water added were recorded.These data can best be used to determine the(1) particle size of the sediments (3) water retention of the sediments(2) particle shape of the sediments (4) porosity of the sediments

37 If tubes A, B, and C were set up to test for capillarity, the data would show that capillarity is(1) greatest in tube A (3) greatest in tube C(2) greatest in tube B (4) the same for tubes A, B, and C

0.005 cm

A(Not drawn to scale)

B

0.1 cm

D

0.005–0.3 cm

C

0.3 cm

Part B–1


Directions (36–50): For each statement or question, choose the word or expression that, of those given, bestcompletes the statement or answers the question. Some questions may require the use of the 2011 EditionReference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science. Record your answers on your separate answer sheet.

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [10]

Base your answers to questions 38 through 40 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents a cut-away view of Earth’s interior and the paths of some of the seismic wavesproduced by an earthquake that originated below Earth’s surface. Points A, B, and C represent seismic stationson Earth’s surface. Point D represents a location at the boundary between the core and the mantle.

38 Seismic station A is 5000 kilometers from the epicenter. What is the difference between the arrival time ofthe first P-wave and the arrival time of the first S-wave recorded at this station?(1) 2 minutes 20 seconds (3) 8 minutes 20 seconds(2) 6 minutes 40 seconds (4) 15 minutes 00 second

39 Which process prevented P-waves from arriving at seismic station B?(1) refraction (3) convection(2) reflection (4) conduction

40 Only P-waves were recorded at seismic station C because P-waves travel(1) only through Earth’s interior, and S-waves travel only on Earth’s surface(2) fast enough to penetrate the core, and S-waves travel too slowly(3) through iron and nickel, while S-waves cannot(4) through liquids, while S-waves cannot

P- andS-waves

received atseismic stations

No wavesreceived

Only P-wavesreceived

Crust

A

B

C

Epicenter

MantleCore

Key

P-waves

S-waves

D

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [11] [OVER]

Base your answers to questions 41 through 43 on the diagrams below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagrams, labeled A, B, and C, represent equal-sized portions of the Sun’s rays striking Earth’s surface at 23.5° N latitude at noon at three different times of the year. The angle at which the Sun’s rays hitEarth’s surface and the relative areas of Earth’s surface receiving the rays at the three different angles of insolation are shown.

41 As viewed in sequence from A to B to C, these diagrams represent which months and which change in theintensity of insolation?(1) December → March → June; and decreasing intensity(2) December → March → June; and increasing intensity(3) June → September → December; and decreasing intensity(4) June → September → December; and increasing intensity

42 As the angle of the Sun’s rays striking Earth’s surface at noon changes from 90° to 43°, the length of a shadow cast by an object will(1) decrease (3) decrease, then increase(2) increase (4) increase, then decrease

43 Which graph best shows the duration of insolation at this location as the angle of insolation changes?

Du

rati

on

Angle (°)

( 1 )

Angle (°)

( 2 )

Angle (°)

( 3 )

Angle (°)

( 4 )

90 66.5 43

Du

rati

on

Du

rati

on

Du

rati

on

90 66.5 43 90 66.5 43 90 66.5 43

A B C

90°66.5° 43°

Sun’s raysSun’s rays

Sun’s rays

Earth’ssurface

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [12]

Base your answers to questions 44 through 47 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the Moon at four positions, labeled A, B, C, and D, in its orbit around Earth.The position of the full-Moon phase is labeled.

44 Approximately how many days (d) does it take for the Moon to move from the phase shown at position Ato the full-Moon phase?(1) 7.4 d (3) 27.3 d(2) 14.7 d (4) 29.5 d

45 Which phase of the Moon could be observed from New York State when the Moon is at position C?

46 The same side of the Moon always faces Earth because the Moon’s period of revolution(1) is longer than the Moon’s period of rotation(2) equals the Moon’s period of rotation(3) is longer than Earth’s period of rotation(4) equals Earth’s period of rotation

47 Solar and lunar eclipses rarely happen during a cycle of phases because the(1) Moon’s orbit is circular and Earth’s orbit is elliptical(2) Moon’s orbit is elliptical and Earth’s orbit is elliptical(3) plane of the Moon’s orbit is different from the plane of Earth’s orbit(4) plane of the Moon’s orbit is the same as the plane of Earth’s orbit

( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 )

Sun’srays


NorthPoleB

C

D

A

Key

Lighted side

Dark side

Full Moon

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [13] [OVER]

Base your answers to questions 48 through 50 on the maps and data table below and on your knowledge ofEarth science. Map I shows the Outer Banks and part of North Carolina along the southeastern coast of theUnited States. Maps II and III show enlargements of the Avon-Buxton section of the Outer Banks indicated bybox X on map I. Map II shows the land and shoreline in 1852. Map III shows the land and shoreline in 1998.The dotted line on map III shows the location of the 1852 shoreline. The data table shows the average width,in meters, at various years, of the Avon-Buxton section.

Avon-Buxton Section Width from 1852 to 1998

Year Average Width(m)

1852 813

1917 547

1940 426

1962 284

1974 284

1998 219

CoreBanks

Buxton X

Avon

AtlanticOcean

PamlicoSound

OuterBanks

NorthCarolina

NorthCarolina

N1852 shoreline

Key

N

Map �� Map ��Avon-Buxton Section of Outer Banks

Avon-Buxton1852

Avon-Buxton1998

PamlicoSound

PamlicoSound

Oce

an

Ocean

Map �

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [14]

48 The Outer Banks were formed primarily from sediments eroded and deposited by ocean waves. Which typeof landform are the Outer Banks?(1) outwash plains (3) river deltas(2) moraine deposits (4) barrier islands

49 Which bar graph best shows the average width of the Avon-Buxton section of the Outer Banks from 1852to 1998?

50 Which ocean current has the greatest warming influence on the climate of the Outer Banks of NorthCarolina?(1) Gulf Stream Current (3) Labrador Current(2) North Atlantic Current (4) Canary Current

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Sec

tio

n W

idth

(m

)

Year

1852

1917

1940

1962

1974

1998

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Sec

tio

n W

idth

(m

)

Year

1852

1917

1940

1962

1974

1998

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Sec

tio

n W

idth

(m

)

Year

1852

1917

1940

1962

1974

1998

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Sec

tio

n W

idth

(m

)

Year

1852

1917

1940

1962

1974

1998

( 1 ) ( 3 )( 2 ) ( 4 )

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [15] [OVER]

Base your answers to questions 51 through 54 on the passage and the graph below and on your knowledgeof Earth science.

Great Lake EffectsThe Great Lakes influence the weather and climate of nearby land regions at all

times of the year. Much of this lake effect is determined by the relative temperaturesof surface lake water compared to the surface air temperatures over those land areas.The graph below shows the average monthly temperature of the surface water of Lake Erie and the surface air temperature at Buffalo, New York.

In an average year, four lake-effect seasons are experienced. When surface laketemperatures are colder than surface air temperatures, a stable season occurs. The cooler lake waters suppress cloud development and reduce the strength of rainstorms. As a result, late spring and early summer in the Buffalo region tends to bevery sunny.

A season of lake-effect rains follows. August is usually a time of heavy nighttimerains, and much of the rainy season is marked by heavy, localized rainstorms downwindfrom the lake. Gradually, during late October, lake-effect rains are replaced by snows.Generally, the longer the time the wind travels over the lake, the heavier the lake effectbecomes in Buffalo.

Finally, conditions stabilize again, as the relatively shallow Lake Erie freezes over,usually near the end of January. Very few lake-effect storms occur during this time period.

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

80

70

60

50

40

30

20J F M A M J J A S O N D

Lake-effectsnow

Lake-effectstable

season

Frozenlake

Month

Tem

per

atu

re (

�F) Tem

peratu

re (�F)

Average Monthly Temperatures

Source: www.erh.noaa.gov (adapted)

Lake-effectrain

Surface

water

ofLa

keEr

ie

Surfa

ce a

ir at

Buf

falo

Part B–2


Directions (51–65): Record your answers in the spaces provided in your answer booklet. Some questionsmay require the use of the 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science.

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [16]

51 The passage states, “The cooler lake waters suppress cloud development…” because the water cools the air above its surface. Explain why this cool air above the lake surface reduces the amount of cloud development. [1]

52 Identify one weather variable that determines whether Buffalo receives rain or snow from a lake-effectstorm in October. [1]

53 On the map in your answer booklet, draw one straight arrow in Lake Erie to show the winter wind direction most likely to bring the heaviest lake-effect snows to Buffalo. [1]

54 Explain why the Buffalo surface air temperatures increase faster and earlier in the year than do the surfacewater temperatures of Lake Erie. [1]

Base your answers to questions 55 through 58 on the graph in your answer booklet and on your knowledgeof Earth science. The graph shows planet equatorial diameters and planet mean distances from the Sun.Neptune is not shown.

55 In your answer booklet, place an X on the graph to indicate where Neptune would be plotted, based on itsmean distance from the Sun and its equatorial diameter. [1]

56 The diagram in your answer booklet represents Earth drawn to a scale of 1 cm = 2000 km. Centimetermarkings along the equatorial diameter of Earth are also shown on the diagram. On the diagram in youranswer booklet, shade in the space between the centimeter markings to represent the equatorial diameterof Earth’s Moon at this same scale. [1]

57 Compared to the periods of revolution and periods of rotation of the terrestrial planets, how are the periods of revolution and periods of rotation for the Jovian planets different? [1]

58 The center of the asteroid belt is approximately 404 million kilometers from the Sun. State the name of theplanet that is closest to the center of the asteroid belt. [1]

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [17] [OVER]

Base your answers to questions 59 through 61 on the map of Haiti’s location and portion of the ModifiedMercalli Intensity Scale below, on the Haiti Earthquake Intensity Map in your answer booklet, and on yourknowledge of Earth science. The map shows the location of Haiti in the Atlantic Ocean. The Modified MercalliIntensity Scale describes the amount and type of damage caused by an earthquake on a scale from I to XII. A portion of this scale is shown below. Modified Mercalli intensity values for the January 12, 2010, earthquakein Haiti are represented on the Haiti Earthquake Intensity Map in your answer booklet.

A Portion of the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale

Intensity Description of Effects

IV Generally felt by people in motion, loose objects disturbed

V Felt by nearly everyone; some dishes, windows broken

VI Felt by all; slight damage to ordinary structures

VIIDamage rare in buildings of good design and construction; slightto moderate in ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorlybuilt structures; some chimneys broken

VIII

Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse;damage great in poorly built structures; falling chimneys, columns,monuments, walls

IXDamage considerable in specially designed structures; damagegreat in substantial buildings, with partial collapse; buildings shifted off foundations

X Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most concrete andframe structures destroyed along with foundations

North America

South America

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

HaitiCaribbean

Sea

Map of Haiti’s Location

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [18]

59 On the earthquake intensity map in your answer booklet, boundary lines have been drawn between theModified Mercalli intensity values of IV and V. On the map in your answer booklet, draw boundary linesbetween the Modified Mercalli intensity values of V and VI. [1]

60 State the latitude and longitude of Savane Baptiste. Include the units and compass directions in youranswer. [1]

61 Haiti is located at a transform boundary between which two tectonic plates? [1]

Base your answers to questions 62 through 65 on the passage below and on your knowledge of Earth science.

Dinosaur FossilsBones of juvenile long-necked sauropod dinosaurs, Abydosaurus mcintoshi,

have recently been found in 105-million-year-old sandstone at the Dinosaur NationalMonument in Utah. The remains of four individual dinosaurs were found, includingtwo intact skulls. This find is unusual because the softer tissue holding the thin sauropod dinosaur skull bones together usually disintegrates, allowing the skull bonesto separate. Only 8 of 120 types of sauropods discovered have complete skull specimens. These dinosaurs were herbivores, with large numbers of sharp teeth thatwere probably replaced five to six times each year. These teeth allowed only for theharvesting of plant material, but not for chewing it afterward. The plant-harvestingteeth and long neck identify Abydosaurus mcintoshi as a descendant of the brachiosaurs.

62 On the timeline in your answer booklet, place an X on line AB to indicate the time when Abydosaurus mcintoshi lived. [1]

63 Indicate the range of grain sizes in the type of bedrock in which Abydosaurus mcintoshi bones were found. [1]

64 Identify one group of organisms that was a likely food source for Abydosaurus mcintoshi. [1]

65 State a natural event that is inferred by most scientists to be the cause of extinction of the last of thedinosaurs. [1]

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [19] [OVER]

Base your answers to questions 66 through 69 on the block diagram below and on your knowledge of Earthscience. The diagram represents an igneous intrusion that solidified between some layers of sedimentary rock.Letter X represents an index fossil in a sedimentary rock layer. The rock layers have not been overturned.

66 Describe the evidence represented in the diagram that indicates that the shale layer and the limestone layerare older than the igneous intrusion. [1]

67 The limestone layer is composed mostly of what mineral? [1]

68 Describe one characteristic of fossil X that makes it a good index fossil. [1]

69 The igneous intrusion contains the radioactive isotope potassium-40, which is used in radioactive dating todetermine the age of rocks. State one property of potassium-40 that allows it to be useful in the radioactivedating of rocks. [1]


Key

Contactmetamorphism

Igneousintrusion

. . . . .

. . . . .. . . . . .

... . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .

X

. .

Part C


Directions (66–85): Record your answers in the spaces provided in your answer booklet. Some questionsmay require the use of the 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science.

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [20]

Base your answers to questions 70 through 73 on the data table below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The data show the rate of change in the apparent direction of the swing of a Foucault pendulum at various latitudes on Earth, in degrees per hour.

A Foucault Pendulum’s Swing

70 On the grid in your answer booklet, plot the hourly change in a Foucault pendulum’s apparent direction ofswing at the latitudes shown on the data table. Connect the plots with a line. [1]

71 Calculate how many hours are needed for a Foucault pendulum located at the North Pole to complete a 360° change in its apparent direction of swing. [1]

72 If a Foucault pendulum were set up on Mars, it would most likely show similar changes in the pendulum’sapparent direction of swing. Identify the motion of the planet Mars that would cause this change. [1]

73 The Coriolis force results from the same motion that causes the Foucault pendulum to change its apparentdirection of swing. The diagram below represents the relative strength of the Coriolis force acting on airmoving over Earth’s surface.

Describe how the strength of the Coriolis force changes with latitude. [1]

North Pole

Deflection to right

Deflection to left

South Pole

No deflectionEquator

Key

Direction ofair motion

Strength ofCoriolis force(indicated bythe length ofthe arrows)

Coriolisforce

Path

of motion

Latitude(°)

Rate of Change in ApparentDirection of Swing (°/h)

0 0.010 2.620 5.130 7.540 9.650 11.560 13.070 14.180 14.890 15.0

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [21] [OVER]

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [22]

Base your answers to questions 74 through 76 on the block diagram below, which represents a landscapedrained by a stream system, and on your knowledge of Earth science. The actual sizes and shapes of three rocksamples, labeled A, B, and C, and the locations where they were found in the stream are indicated in the diagram. A New York State index fossil is shown in rock sample A.

Lake

B

C

A

74 Explain how the appearance of rock sample A indicates that the sample has spent very little time beingtransported by the stream. [1]

75 Rock sample C has a diameter of 2 centimeters. Determine the minimum stream velocity needed to transport rock sample C to its present location. [1]

76 The stream profile below shows the locations of rock samples A, B, and C in the streambed.

Calculate the stream gradient between the locations of rock sample A and rock sample C. [1]

Base your answers to questions 77 through 80 on the map in your answer booklet and on your knowledge ofEarth science. The map shows the path of a tornado that moved through a portion of Nebraska on May 22, 2004between 7:30 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. The path of the tornado along the ground is indicated by the shaded region.The width of the shading indicates the width of destruction on the ground. Numbers on the tornado’s path indicate the Fujita intensity at those locations. The Fujita Intensity Scale (F-Scale), in the left corner of the map,provides information about wind speed and damage at various F-Scale intensities.

77 On the map in your answer booklet, place an X at a location where the tornado damage was greatest. [1]

78 State a possible wind speed of the tornado, in kilometers per hour (km/h), when it was moving through thetown of Bennet. [1]

79 Identify the weather instrument usually used to measure wind speed. [1]

80 Describe one safety precaution that should be taken if a tornado has been sighted approaching your home. [1]

A

B

C

Lake

Distance (km)

Ele

vati

on

(m

)

100

200

300

400

500

0 1 2 km

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [23] [OVER]

Base your answers to questions 81 through 85 on the reading passage and map below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The passage provides information regarding the eruption of a volcano in Iceland.The map shows the thickness of ash deposits, in centimeters (cm), during the first three days of the eruption. Point A, representing the volcano’s location, and point B, representing a location on Earth’s surface, are connected with a reference line.

Iceland Volcano Eruption Spreads Ash Cloud over EuropeOn April 14, 2010, Eyjafjallajökull volcano, located in southern Iceland, explosively

erupted, sending large volumes of volcanic ash high into the atmosphere. Much of theash fell quickly to Earth, as seen in the map, but large quantities remained airborneand spread over Europe. Most of the ash was transported within the atmosphere below10 kilometers. Air traffic across the Atlantic and throughout Europe was severely disrupted, as airlines were forced to keep jet aircraft on the ground.

A

B

0.5

0.55

0.1

1

23

10

Ash Fall (cm) April 14–16 in Iceland

19° 30′ W 18° 30′ W

63° 30′ N

63° 40′ N

20

AtlanticOcean

10 km0 5

Source: Ash generation and distribution from the April-May 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland, Gudmundsson et al., Scientific Reports, August 14, 2012 (adapted)

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [24]

P.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [25]

81 On the grid in your answer booklet, construct a profile of the thickness of the volcanic ash deposits by plotting the ash fall along line AB. Plot each point where an isoline showing thickness is crossed by line AB.Ash thickness at location A has been plotted. Complete the profile by connecting all seven plots with a line. [1]

82 Identify the atmospheric layer within which most of the volcanic ash was transported. [1]

83 Describe one way the volcanic ash cloud may have contributed to cooler weather conditions in Europe. [1]

84 The graphs below indicate the percent by mass of different diameters of ash particles deposited at 2 kilometers and 60 kilometers from the volcanic eruption.

Describe how the size of the deposited ash particles changed with increased distance from the volcano. [1]

85 Explain why the lithosphere in the vicinity of Eyjafjallajökull is more volcanically active than most otherregions of Earth’s surface. [1]

Diameter (mm)

Mas

s (%

)

Deposited 2 km from Volcano

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Volcanic Ash Deposited fromthe April 14-16 Eruption

8.0

4.0

2.0

1.0

0.50

0

0.25

0

0.12

5

0.06

3

0.03

2

0.01

6

0.00

8

0.00

4

0.00

2

0.00

1

Diameter (mm)

Mas

s (%

)

Deposited 60 km from Volcano

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

8.0

4.0

2.0

1.0

0.50

0

0.25

0

0.12

5

0.06

3

0.03

2

0.01

6

0.00

8

0.00

4

0.00

2

0.00

1


Printed on Recycled Paper

The University of the State of New York


PHYSICAL SETTINGEARTH SCIENCE

Thursday, August 13, 2015 — 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., only

ANSWER BOOKLET

Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sex: � Female

Teacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grade . . . . . . . . .

Record your answers for Part B–2 and Part C in this booklet.

� Male

51

52

53

Ohio

MichiganBuffalo

Pennsylvania

85° W 80° W75° W

40° N

45° N

LakeOntario

LakeErie

LakeHuron

CANADA

Part B–2

P.S./E. Sci. Answer Booklet–Aug. ’15 [2]

54

55

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

Mean Distance from Sun (x 106 km)

5000

Eq

uat

ori

al D

iam

eter

of

Pla

net

(x

103

km)

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Planet Diameters and Planet Distances from the Sun150

140

130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

56

57 Jovian periods of revolution:

Jovian periods of rotation:

58

Scale: 1 cm = 2000 km

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4 5 6

cm

cm

P.S./E. Sci. Answer Booklet–Aug. ’15 [3] [OVER]


59

60 Latitude: ________________________________ Longitude: ________________________________

61 __________________________________ Plate and __________________________________ Plate

74� W 73� W 72� W

19� N

18� N

20� N

HaitiCaribbean Sea

Port-au-Prince

Haiti Earthquake Intensity Map

IVIV

IVIV

IVVV

V VV

V

V

VI

VI

VIVI

VIV V

IV

IV

VII

VIVII

VIIVIIVII VIII

IXXVIIIX

VIIIVIIIIX

VI

SavaneBaptiste

Do

min

ica

n

Re

pu

bl i

c


62

63 _____________ cm to _____________ cm

64

65

B

A

Cretaceous

Jurassic

Triassic

Permian

Late

Early

LateMiddle

Early

Late

MiddleEarlyLateMiddle

Early

PaleogeneOligoceneEocenePaleocene

66

67

68

69

70

71 h

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

15

10

5

0

Latitude (�)

A Foucault Pendulum�s Swing

Rat

e o

f C

han

ge

in A

pp

aren

t D

irec

tio

n o

f S

win

g (

�/h)


Part C


72

73

74

75 cm/s

76 m/km

77

78 km/h

79

80

Path of Nebraska Tornado

N

5 10 150 20 km

Princeton

Cortland

Western

Daykin

PickrellDe Witt

F-Scaleintensity

Swanton

Plymouth

7:30 p.m.

0

Clatonia Adams

Firth

Panama

Hickman

9:10 p.m.Palmyra

013

2

21

2

22

34

244424

21

1

00

11

1

111

00

Wilber

Bennet

Hallam

Fujita Intensity Scale

Wind SpeedF-Scale

F0

(km/h)

less than 116

116-180

181-253

254-332

333-419

higher than 419

Damage

light

moderate

considerable

severe

devastating

incredible

F1

F2

F3

F4

F5

81

82

83

84

85

Ash

Dep

th (

cm)

A

Depth of Volcanic Ash from April 14–16 Eruptions

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

B



Printed on Recycled Paper

Directions to the Teacher:Refer to the directions on page 2 before rating student papers.

Updated information regarding the rating of this examination may be posted on the New YorkState Education Department’s web site during the rating period. Check this web site at:http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/ and select the link “Scoring Information” for any recentlyposted information regarding this examination. This site should be checked before the ratingprocess for this examination begins and several times throughout the Regents Examination period.

FOR TEACHERS ONLYThe University of the State of New York


PHYSICAL SETTING/EARTH SCIENCE

Thursday, August 13, 2015 — 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., only

SCORING KEY AND RATING GUIDE

Part A and Part B–1Allow 1 credit for each correct response.

1 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 10 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . 19 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 28 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .

2 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . 11 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 20 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . 29 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . .

3 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . 12 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 21 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 30 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . .

4 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 13 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 22 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 31 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . .

5 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 14 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 23 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 32 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . .

6 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 15 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . 24 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 33 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . .

7 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 16 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 25 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 34 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . .

8 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . 17 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 26 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 35 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .

9 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 18 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 27 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .

Part A

Part B–1

36 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 40 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 44 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 48 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . .

37 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 41 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 49 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .

38 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 42 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 46 . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 50 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . .

39 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 43 . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 47 . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .

P.S./E. Sci. Rating Guide–Aug. ’15 [2]

Directions to the Teacher

Follow the procedures below for scoring student answer papers for the Regents Examination in PhysicalSetting/Earth Science. Additional information about scoring is provided in the publication InformationBooklet for Scoring Regents Examinations in the Sciences.

Do not attempt to correct the student’s work by making insertions or changes of any kind. If the student’s responses for the multiple-choice questions are being hand scored prior to beingscanned, the scorer must be careful not to make any marks on the answer sheet except to recordthe scores in the designated score boxes. Marks elsewhere on the answer sheet will interfere withthe accuracy of the scanning.

Allow 1 credit for each correct response.

At least two science teachers must participate in the scoring of the Part B–2 and Part C open-ended questions on a student’s paper. Each of these teachers should be responsible for scoring a selected number ofthe open-ended questions on each answer paper. No one teacher is to score more than approximately one-halfof the open-ended questions on a student’s answer paper. Teachers may not score their own students’ answerpapers.

Students’ responses must be scored strictly according to the Scoring Key and Rating Guide. For open-ended questions, credit may be allowed for responses other than those given in the rating guide ifthe response is a scientifically accurate answer to the question and demonstrates adequate knowledge as indicated by the examples in the rating guide. On the student’s separate answer sheet, for each question, recordthe number of credits earned and the teacher’s assigned rater/scorer letter.

Fractional credit is not allowed. Only whole-number credit may be given for a response. If the studentgives more than one answer to a question, only the first answer should be rated. Units need not be given whenthe wording of the questions allows such omissions.

For hand scoring, raters should enter the scores earned in the appropriate boxes printed on the separateanswer sheet. Next, the rater should add these scores and enter the total in the space provided. The student’sscore for the Earth Science Performance Test should be recorded in the space provided. Then the student’sraw scores on the written test and the performance test should be converted to a scale score by using the conversion chart that will be posted on the Department’s web site at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/on Thursday, August 13, 2015. The student’s scale score should be entered in the box labeled “Scale Score”on the student’s answer sheet. The scale score is the student’s final examination score.

Schools are not permitted to rescore any of the open-ended questions on this exam after eachquestion has been rated once, regardless of the final exam score. Schools are required to ensurethat the raw scores have been added correctly and that the resulting scale score has been determined accurately.

Because scale scores corresponding to raw scores in the conversion chart may change from one administration to another, it is crucial that, for each administration, the conversion chart provided for thatadministration be used to determine the student’s final score.

Part B–2

Allow a maximum of 15 credits for this part.

51 [1] Allow 1 credit. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:

— Cooler air near the lake remains close to the surface because it is more dense than the sur-rounding air.

— Cold air over the lake is more dense.

— Cooler air over Lake Erie is less likely to rise.

— Convection is reduced.

— Less evaporation occurs when the air is colder.

— lack of moisture

— Warm air rises to form clouds.


— temperature/air temperature

— The average temperature of the air is colder when Buffalo receives snow.

53 [1] Allow 1 credit for any arrow drawn from a southwest to northeast orientation on Lake Erie pointingtoward Buffalo.

Note: Allow credit even if the arrow extends before Lake Erie or beyond Buffalo. If additionalarrows are drawn, they need not be over Lake Erie, but must have a general SW to NEdirection.

Example of a 1-credit response:

Ohio

MichiganBuffalo

Pennsylvania

85° W 80° W75° W

40° N

45° N

LakeOntario

LakeErie

LakeHuron

CANADA



— The specific heat of water is greater than the specific heat of land or dry land, so the airover the land heats up faster than the air over the lake.

— More energy is required to heat up the same amount of water than to heat the same amountof land.

— Air has a lower specific heat than water.

— A lot of energy is used to melt the ice on Lake Erie.

— Lake Erie is still covered by ice.

— The darker land surface absorbs greater insolation.

— Land heats up faster than water.


55 [1] Allow 1 credit if the center of the X for Neptune is plotted within or touches the grid square thatis circled as shown below.

Note: Allow credit if a symbol other than an X is used. Neptune need not be labeled.

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

Mean Distance from Sun (x 106 km)

5000

Eq

uat

ori

al D

iam

eter

of

Pla

net

(x

103

km)

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Planet Diameters and Planet Distances from the Sun150

140

130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

NeptuneUranus


56 [1] Allow 1 credit for indicating a diameter of any value from 1.6 cm to 1.9 cm.

Note: Allow credit for a shading anywhere along or on the centimeter scale as long as it is 1.6 cmto 1.9 cm long.

57 [1] Allow 1 credit if both responses are correct. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:

Jovian periods of revolution: — longer— greater— more time

Jovian periods of rotation: — shorter— less time

Note: Allow credit if the student answers “slower” for periods of revolution and “faster” for periods of rotation, even though these refer to rate, not to periods of time.

58 [1] Allow 1 credit for Mars.

59 [1] Allow 1 credit if boundary lines between V and VI are correctly drawn.

Note: Allow a credit even if a student-drawn line extends into the water.Do not allow credit if the student-drawn line touches or passes through any Mercalli value.If extra Mercalli lines are drawn, all must be correct to receive credit.

Example of a 1-credit response:

74� W 73� W 72� W

19� N

18� N

20� N

HaitiCaribbean Sea

Port-au-Prince

Haiti Earthquake Intensity Map

IVIV

IVIV

IVVV

V VV

V

V

VI

VI

VIVI

VIV V

IV

IV

VII

VIVII

VIIVIIVII VIII

IXXVIIIX

VIIIVIIIIX

VI

SavaneBaptiste

Do

min

ica

n

Re

pu

bl i

c


60 [1] Allow 1 credit if both responses are correct.

Latitude: 19° NLongitude: 72° W

61 [1] Allow 1 credit for North American Plate and Caribbean Plate.

62 [1] Allow 1 credit for the center of an X within or touching the box shown below.

Note: Allow credit if a symbol other than an X is used.It is recommended that an overlay of the same scale as the student answer booklet be usedto ensure reliability in rating.


— 0.006 cm to 0.2 cm

— 0.2 cm to 0.006 cm

B

A

Cretaceous

Jurassic

Triassic

Permian

Late

Early

LateMiddle

Early

Late

MiddleEarlyLateMiddle

Early

PaleogeneOligoceneEocenePaleocene



— vascular plants

— flowering plants

— trees

— ferns

— plants

— plant materials

Note: Do not accept grasses because the earliest grasses appeared in the Oligocene.Do not accept the name of any index fossil found in the Earth Science Reference Tablesbecause they did not live during the time that Abydosaurus mcintoshi lived.


— an asteroid impact

— an impact event

— a meteorite/meteor/meteoroid collision with Earth

— climate change

— a disruption of food chains/food webs

— comet impact

Note: Do not allow credit for “meteorite,” “meteor,” “meteoroid,” or “comet” alone because theydo not describe a natural event.Do not allow credit for volcanic eruption because this is not the most widely inferred causeof dinosaur extinction.


Part C


— Both layers have contact metamorphism.

— The layers were changed by the igneous intrusion.

— The intrusion could only metamorphose layers that are already existing.

— contact metamorphism

Note: Do not allow credit for “igneous intrusions are younger than the rock they cut across”because the intrusion does not cut across the shale layer.

67 [1] Allow 1 credit for calcite.


— widespread distribution

— lived for a short time

— easily identified


— Potassium-40 decays at a specific rate.

— K-40 has a known half-life.

— K-40 has a constant rate of decay.

— K-40 decays at a rate independent of external factors.

— Potassium-40 has a long half-life.

— The half-life of K-40 is 1.3 × 109 years.


70 [1] Allow 1 credit if the centers of all ten plots are within or touch the circles shown below and arecorrectly connected with a line passing within or touching the circles.

Note: Allow credit if a line misses a plot, but is still within or touches the circle.It is recommended that an overlay of the same scale as the student answer booklet be usedto ensure reliability in rating.

71 [1] Allow 1 credit for 24 h.


— rotation

— spin

— turning on its axis

Note: Do not allow credit for “faster rotation” or “shorter rotation” because these are scientificallyincorrect with respect to the rotation of Mars compared to the rotation of Earth.

Rat

e o

f C

han

ge

in A

pp

aren

t D

irec

tio

n o

f S

win

g (

�/h)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

15

10

5

0

Latitude (�)

A Foucault Pendulum�s Swing



— As latitude increases, the Coriolis force increases.

— the closer to the equator, the weaker the Coriolis force

— The Coriolis force is strongest by the poles.

— direct relationship


— The sample is angular in appearance.

— It is not rounded.

— The edges are not worn off.

Note: Do not accept “not very weathered” or “no abrasion” because this does not describe anappearance or observable characteristic of the rock sample.

75 [1] Allow 1 credit for any value from 70 cm/s to 110 cm/s.

76 [1] Allow 1 credit for any value from 48 m/km to 52 m/km.

77 [1] Allow 1 credit if the center of the X is within or touches any of the clear areas along the path ofthe tornado shown below.

Note: It is recommended that an overlay of the same scale as the student answer booklet be usedto ensure reliability in rating.

Fujita Intensity Scale

Wind SpeedF-Scale

F0

(km/h)

less than 116

116-180

181-253

254-332

333-419

higher than 419

Damage

light

moderate

considerable

severe

devastating

incredible

Path of Nebraska Tornado

N

5 10 150 20 km

Hallam

Princeton

Cortland

Western

Daykin

PickrellDe Witt

F-Scaleintensity

Swanton

Plymouth

7:30 p.m.

0

Clatonia Adams

Firth

Panama

Hickman

9:10 p.m.Palmyra

013

2

21

2

22

3

22

21

1

00

11

1

111

00

Wilber

Bennet

F1

F2

F3

F4

F5


78 [1] Allow 1 credit for any value from 254 km/h to 332 km/h.

79 [1] Allow 1 credit for anemometer or wind speed meter.


— go into a basement or underground storm shelter

— go to an interior room

— stay away from windows

— get under something sturdy

Note: Do not allow credit for a response that indicates a safety precaution to prepare for a futuretornado.


81 [1] Allow 1 credit if the centers of all six student plots are within or touch the rectangles shown belowand all seven plots are correctly connected with a line that passes within or touches the rectanglesfrom point A to point B.

Note: Allow credit if the line misses a plot but is still within or touches the rectangle.It is recommended that an overlay of the same scale as the student answer booklet be usedto ensure reliability in rating.

82 [1] Allow 1 credit for troposphere.


— The ash most likely reflected/scattered the incoming solar radiation.

— Less sunlight was received at Earth’s surface.

— The ash most likely blocked some of the sunlight.

— Atmospheric transparency was reduced.

— The cloud blocked the Sun.

Ash

Dep

th (

cm)

A

Depth of Volcanic Ash from April 14–16 Eruptions

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

B



— A greater percentage by mass of smaller ash particles was carried farther.

— The larger particles were carried shorter distances.

— They tend to be a smaller size.


— Iceland is located above a mantle hotspot.

— A tectonic plate boundary passes through Iceland.

— Iceland is on a divergent plate boundary.

— Iceland is located on a mid-ocean ridge.



The Chart for Determining the Final Examination Score for the August 2015Regents Examination in Physical Setting/Earth Science will be posted on theDepartment’s web site at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/ on Thursday,August 13, 2015. Conversion charts provided for previous administrations ofthe Regents Examination in Physical Setting/Earth Science must NOT be usedto determine students’ final scores for this administration.

Regents Examination in Physical Setting/Earth Science

August 2015

Chart for Converting Total Test Raw Scores toFinal Examination Scores (Scale Scores)

Online Submission of Teacher Evaluations of the Test to the Department

Suggestions and feedback from teachers provide an important contribution to the test development process. The Department provides an online evaluation form for State assessments. It contains spaces for teachers to respond to several specific questions and tomake suggestions. Instructions for completing the evaluation form are as follows:

1. Go to http://www.forms2.nysed.gov/emsc/osa/exameval/reexameval.cfm.

2. Select the test title.

3. Complete the required demographic fields.

4. Complete each evaluation question and provide comments in the space provided.

5. Click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of the page to submit the completed form.


Map to Core Curriculum

August 2015 Physical Setting/Earth Science Question Numbers

Key Ideas/Performance Indicators Part A Part B Part C Standard 1

Math Key Idea 1 44, 55 70, 76, 78, 81 Math Key Idea 2 5, 15, 25, 27, 32, 34 37, 38, 40, 42, 43,

49, 59 75, 84

Math Key Idea 3 71

Science Inquiry Key Idea 1 6, 27 36, 37, 41, 45, 47, 51, 55

66, 68, 72, 74, 79, 83, 85

Science Inquiry Key Idea 2

Science Inquiry Key Idea 3 1, 2, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 32, 33, 34, 35

38, 39, 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65

67, 69, 75, 76, 82, 85

Engineering Design Key Idea 1 Standard 2

Key Idea 1

Key Idea 2

Key Idea 3

Standard 6 Key Idea 1 8 39, 40

Key Idea 2 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35

36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66

66, 68, 73, 77, 81

Key Idea 3 56, 57

Key Idea 4 Key Idea 5 3 46, 49, 53, 65 75, 83, 84

Key Idea 6 Standard 7

Key Idea 1 Key Idea 2 80

Standard 4

Key Idea 1 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 33

36, 37, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 62, 64, 65

66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73

Key Idea 2 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31

38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 59, 61

74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85

Key Idea 3 21, 23, 32, 34, 35 63 67

Reference Tables ESRT 2011 Edition (Revised) 1, 2, 7, 8, 12, 13,

14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 32, 33, 34, 35

38, 46, 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65

67, 69, 75, 76, 82, 85

P.S./Earth Science Conversion Chart - August ’15 1 of 2

16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 085 100 99 99 99 98 98 97 96 96 95 94 93 91 90 88 87 8584 99 99 98 98 98 97 96 96 95 94 93 92 91 89 88 86 8483 99 99 98 98 98 97 96 96 95 94 93 92 91 89 88 86 8482 98 98 98 97 97 96 95 95 94 93 92 91 90 88 87 85 8381 98 98 98 97 97 96 95 95 94 93 92 91 90 88 87 85 8380 97 97 97 96 96 95 95 94 93 92 91 90 89 88 86 84 8279 97 96 96 95 95 94 94 93 92 91 90 89 88 87 85 83 8278 97 96 96 95 95 94 94 93 92 91 90 89 88 87 85 83 8277 96 95 95 95 94 94 93 92 91 91 89 88 87 86 84 83 8176 95 95 94 94 93 93 92 91 91 90 89 88 86 85 83 82 8075 95 95 94 94 93 93 92 91 91 90 89 88 86 85 83 82 8074 94 94 93 93 92 92 91 90 90 89 88 87 86 84 83 81 7973 93 93 92 92 92 91 90 90 89 88 87 86 85 83 82 80 7872 93 93 92 92 92 91 90 90 89 88 87 86 85 83 82 80 7871 92 92 92 91 91 90 90 89 88 87 86 85 84 82 81 79 7770 92 91 91 90 90 89 89 88 87 86 85 84 83 82 80 78 7769 91 90 90 89 89 88 88 87 86 85 84 83 82 81 79 77 7668 91 90 90 89 89 88 88 87 86 85 84 83 82 81 79 77 7667 90 90 89 89 88 88 87 86 85 85 84 82 81 80 78 77 7566 89 89 88 88 87 87 86 85 85 84 83 82 80 79 77 76 7465 88 88 87 87 86 86 85 85 84 83 82 81 80 78 77 75 7364 87 87 87 86 86 85 84 84 83 82 81 80 79 77 76 74 7263 86 86 86 85 85 84 84 83 82 81 80 79 78 77 75 73 7162 86 86 86 85 85 84 84 83 82 81 80 79 78 77 75 73 7161 86 85 85 84 84 83 83 82 81 80 79 78 77 76 74 72 7160 85 84 84 84 83 82 82 81 80 79 78 77 76 75 73 72 7059 84 84 83 83 82 82 81 80 80 79 78 77 75 74 72 71 6958 83 83 82 82 81 81 80 79 79 78 77 76 74 73 71 70 6857 82 82 81 81 81 80 79 79 78 77 76 75 74 72 71 69 6756 81 81 81 80 80 79 78 78 77 76 75 74 73 71 70 68 6655 80 80 80 79 79 78 78 77 76 75 74 73 72 71 69 67 6554 80 79 79 78 78 77 77 76 75 74 73 72 71 70 68 66 6553 79 78 78 78 77 77 76 75 74 74 72 71 70 69 67 66 6452 78 78 77 77 76 76 75 74 74 73 72 71 69 68 66 65 6351 77 77 76 76 75 75 74 73 73 72 71 70 69 67 66 64 6250 76 76 75 75 75 74 73 73 72 71 70 69 68 66 65 63 6149 75 75 75 74 74 73 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 65 64 62 6048 75 74 74 73 73 72 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65 63 61 6047 74 73 73 72 72 71 71 70 69 68 67 66 65 64 62 60 5946 73 73 72 72 71 71 70 69 68 68 67 65 64 63 61 60 5845 71 71 70 70 69 69 68 68 67 66 65 64 63 61 60 58 56

Total Performance Test Score

To determine the student’s final score, locate the student’s Total Performance Test Score across the top of the chart and the Total Written Test Score down the side of thechart. The point where the two scores intersect is the student’s final examination score. For example, a student receiving a Total Performance Test Score of 10 and TotalWritten Test Score of 65 would receive a final examination score of 85.

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The State Education Department / The University of the State of New YorkRegents Examination in Physical Setting/Earth Science – August 2015

Chart for Converting Total Test Raw Scores to Final Examination Scores (Scale Scores)(Not to be used for the Braille Edition)

P.S./Earth Science Conversion Chart - August ’15 2 of 2

16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 044 70 70 70 69 69 68 67 67 66 65 64 63 62 60 59 57 5543 69 69 69 68 68 67 67 66 65 64 63 62 61 60 58 56 5442 69 68 68 67 67 66 66 65 64 63 62 61 60 59 57 55 5441 68 67 67 67 66 65 65 64 63 62 61 60 59 58 56 55 5340 67 67 66 66 65 65 64 63 63 62 61 60 58 57 55 54 5239 65 65 64 64 64 63 62 62 61 60 59 58 57 55 54 52 5038 64 64 64 63 63 62 61 61 60 59 58 57 56 54 53 51 4937 63 63 63 62 62 61 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 52 50 4836 63 62 62 61 61 60 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 51 49 4835 61 61 60 60 59 59 58 57 57 56 55 54 52 51 49 48 4634 60 60 59 59 58 58 57 56 56 55 54 53 52 50 49 47 4533 59 59 58 58 58 57 56 56 55 54 53 52 51 49 48 46 4432 58 57 57 56 56 55 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 46 44 4331 57 56 56 55 55 54 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 45 43 4230 56 56 55 55 54 54 53 52 51 51 50 48 47 46 44 43 4129 54 54 53 53 52 52 51 51 50 49 48 47 46 44 43 41 3928 53 53 53 52 52 51 50 50 49 48 47 46 45 43 42 40 3827 52 51 51 50 50 49 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 40 38 3726 51 50 50 50 49 48 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 39 38 3625 50 50 49 49 48 48 47 46 46 45 44 43 41 40 38 37 3524 48 48 47 47 47 46 45 45 44 43 42 41 40 38 37 35 3323 47 47 47 46 46 45 44 44 43 42 41 40 39 37 36 34 3222 46 45 45 44 44 43 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 34 32 3121 45 44 44 44 43 43 42 41 40 40 38 37 36 35 33 32 3020 43 43 42 42 41 41 40 39 39 38 37 36 35 33 32 30 2819 41 41 41 40 40 39 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 31 30 28 2618 41 40 40 39 39 38 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 29 27 2617 39 39 38 38 37 37 36 35 34 34 33 31 30 29 27 26 2416 38 38 37 37 36 36 35 34 34 33 32 31 29 28 26 25 2315 36 36 36 35 35 34 33 33 32 31 30 29 28 26 25 23 2114 35 35 35 34 34 33 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 24 22 2013 34 33 33 33 32 31 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 22 21 1912 32 32 31 31 30 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 23 22 20 19 1711 31 31 30 30 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24 23 21 20 18 1610 29 29 29 28 28 27 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 18 16 149 28 27 27 27 26 26 25 24 23 23 21 20 19 18 16 15 138 27 27 26 26 25 25 24 23 23 22 21 20 18 17 15 14 127 25 25 24 24 24 23 22 22 21 20 19 18 17 15 14 12 106 24 23 23 22 22 21 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 12 10 95 23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 11 9 84 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 17 17 16 15 14 12 11 9 8 63 19 19 19 18 18 17 16 16 15 14 13 12 11 9 8 6 42 18 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 7 5 31 17 16 16 16 15 14 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 5 4 20 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 11 11 10 9 8 6 5 3 2 0

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Final Examination Scores

Total Performance Test Score

Regents Examination in Physical Setting/Earth Science – August 2015 – continued

Documents

PHYSICAL SETTING EARTH SCIENCE - JMAPjmap.org/IJMAP/EarthScience/0815ExamES.pdfP.S./E. Sci.–Aug. ’15 [2] Part A Answer all questions in this part. Directions (1–35): For eachstatement